The Hon. George Baker, P.C.

Appointed to the Senate by the Rt. Honourable Jean Chrétien, Senator George Baker represents the province of Newfoundland and the Senatorial Division of Newfoundland and Labrador. He has served in the Senate of Canada since March 26, 2002.

He is currently a member of the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights and the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.

Former MP for the riding of Gander–Grand Falls (Newfoundland and Labrador), he was first elected to the House of Commons in 1974, and was re-elected at every subsequent federal election.

During his distinguished parliamentary career, he has served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport from 1975 to 1976, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Environment from 1975 to 1976, and as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue in 1976.

In Opposition, he served as Party Critic for Atlantic Development in 1989, and Associate Party Critic for the Treasury Board in 1990.

From 1999 to 2000, George Baker served as Minister of Veterans Affairs. In this portfolio, he successfully negotiated a $50 million compensation package for veterans of Canada’s merchant navy – an issue that was very close to his heart.

Since 1993, he has also served on the House Standing Committees on Finance, Trade and Economic Affairs, Fisheries and Oceans, Miscellaneous Estimates, Transport, Government Operations, and Procedure and House Affairs.

Mr. Baker studied political science and economics at Memorial University of Newfoundland and at the University of New Brunswick. He was formerly Chief Clerk of the Newfoundland House of Assembly, serving concurrently, from 1967 to 1968, as Secretary of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. George Baker also worked as a contract producer for CBC, for music drama and arts in Newfoundland.